raced keenly, chased leader after 2nd, hit 4th, led approaching 2 out, ridden out (no time taken)
raced freely, jumped right, led, soon clear, headed, weakened approaching 2 out, finished tired
chased leader until after 2nd, not fluent next, ridden after 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, switched both ways between last 2, stayed on same pace flat
not always fluent, held up, headway 3 out, no impression when went modest 3rd 2 out
held up, raced keenly, not fluent 3rd, blundered next, mistake 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, dismounted
Jonjo O'Neill's Brainwave is bred to be useful but he will need to be to get the better of stable companion GET ME OUT OF HERE, a decent winner of a bumper at Uttoxeter and a novices' hurdle at Worcester in his two starts so far and he gets the vote to complete a hat-trick with the main danger rated as Ballybach. Nick Gifford's gelding lacks any hurdling experience but he has shown a decent level of form in bumpers having run well on his debut in a Grade 2 contest at Ascot prior to finding just King's Legacy too good on his only subsequent start at Kempton. Civil Servant had been expensive to follow for Nigel Twiston-Davies but was good value for his win at Uttoxeter recently, although a penalty for that success makes this more difficult. Jimmy Frost's Rathrockscourt has won three of his last five starts, latterly in a seller at Uttoxeter, but he is likely to struggle in having to give weight away all round. Southerness has shown progressive form in bumpers and makes more appeal first time out over hurdles than Tom George's The Darling Boy, who has run to a reasonable level of form in bumpers but remains a maiden. Preference then is for Jonjo O'Neill's Get Me Out Of Here, who has shown a decent level of form in bumpers and over hurdles and he can win again.
Rathrockscourt (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Pulled hard, in touch, led approaching 4th, pressed 3 out, soon ridden, drew clear last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd beating Star Tenor (10-12) by 17l, 9 ran.
Calaficial (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Pulled hard, led, went clear approaching 3rd, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 18l behind Get Me Out Of Here (10-12) at Worcester 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Civil Servant Evensfav (10-5) Made virtually all, ridden approaching last, pushed out flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd beating Playing With Fire (10-5) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Ballybach (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, chased winner over 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final frulong, just held, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind King's Legacy (11-2) at Kempton 2m NH flat (4) gs in Feb.
Southerness 7-2 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway over 4f out, led approaching final furlong, ridden out, won at Catterick 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Feb beating Sir Mulberry Hawk (10-13) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 4-5fav (10-12) Held up, raced keenly, headway 5th, not fluent 3 out, led last, going clear when jinked right towards paddock exit flat, comfortably, won at Worcester 2m nov hdl (4) gs beating Pure Faith (10-7) by 8l, 11 ran.
Brainwave (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Dawn Native.
The Darling Boy 10-3 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 4f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 3rd of 9, 15l behind Pendower (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in May.
